I went "local" and wow did I enjoy it.

As we all lament the transformation of the British High Street while at the same time showing great reluctance to abandon the convenience of on-line shopping and the daily trip to our favourite national coffee chain franchise, has the time now come to "cut the High Street some slack" and show it a little more support?

As I displayed my parking ticket prominently (I've been caught out by that one before), my mind turned not to the heady anticipation that every woman feels when about to embark on a few hours of retail therapy but instead, the thought of the sheer pleasure of that first sip of the almost bespoke skinny, extra hot, flat white which I would purchase from my favourite franchise coffee shop. I would order it to go and look slightly sheepish as the devilish take-away cup is handed to me - it took me a year to accustom myself to reusable supermarket bags. The habit of carrying around a reusable coffee cup will not be formed overnight. I preferred not to sit in the coffee shop - not because of a lack of time but more because of a lack of atmosphere. The big chain coffee shops offered no charm - they were more like comfortable offices with the main occupants huddled over laptops while nursing their oversized coffees for hours.

The autumn sunshine and the buoyant mood I was in may have contributed to the reckless inclination I had to turn away from my normal coffee shop and peer into the window of a very charming cafe called Osbornes on Fore Street. It was 10.30am and I knew that my regular shop would be heaving. There would be a long queue and the "baristas" would be working at full speed. Osbornes, however, was quiet. I threw caution to the wind and gingerly opened the door. I was greeted by an elderly gentleman whom I presumed to be the owner and asked to take a seat while he made my extra hot skinny latte. I felt disinclined to ask for a flat white as his initial assumption when I asked if I could just come in for a coffee was that I would want a regular filter coffee. "regular white?" Somehow it felt good again to talk in simple coffee terms. I sat at a window table and admired the decor of pictures of glamorous Hollywood stars from a former era. This cafe reminded me of an old- fashioned tea room. I was presented with a piping-hot latte in a coffee glass and an explanation that it was "hand-made" as there was no coffee machine. I was not disappointed. It was a delicious coffee and I thoroughly enjoyed the following half hour as a few more "regulars" arrived. They discussed the ongoing problems of Sidmouth town - GP's opening hours, lack of things for youngsters to do, the refusal of the new business park... all while pretending to read my autobiography of the Mitford Girls whom I thought would be well placed here. All this for the very reasonable sum of £2. After a quick chat and a generous tip, I went on my way contently.

A few hours shopping is enough to build an appetite. I found tucked away in a little alleyway another gem called The Filling Station (off Fore Street, opposite Boots). It could not have been more different from Osbornes. It had much more of that "cafe" feel with chunky wooden tables and brightly-coloured painted walls. They sold hot pies and simple food. I was hungry but also craving another coffee fix. I was a little disappointed to learn that they only had full-fat milk and settled down to a hearty sandwich and full-fat flat white. It came in a perfectly-sized mug whose handle was designed to cleverly slot the spoon in and was, as I requested, piping hot. Bespoke service one doesn't receive at the chains. It must have been the full-fat milk because this coffee was one of the best coffees I can remember ever tasting. I was not surprised to read the sign which displayed the excellent trip advisor reviews that they had received. The food was good and the coffee excellent.

I spent the rest of my shopping hours wondering why for so many years I had never ventured away from the tried-and-tested national coffee chains. That's the advantage of the "franchise." You know exactly what you are going to get but that becomes mundane after a while. I left Sidmouth with bags full of goodies and what I am sure was very stale coffee breath and a new resolve to ditch the high street chains and choose instead to give my support and business to the independent coffee shops. They need us and they are doing their best to lure us in. We need only to change our mind set and realise what we are be missing.